Heat treating apparatus



Aug. 25, 1942. o. v. cARLsoN ETAL 2393,80:

HEAT TREATING APPARATUS I Filed Aug. 18, 1938 r 8 Sheets-Sheetl I 15.15- v INVENTORS [9/ v 00m \LCARLSON V BIYARTHUR K.$EEMANN ATTORNEY Aug. 25, 1942. o. v. CARLSQN ETAL 2,293,802

HEAT TREATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 18, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 v M F 5 & A5

l V 36 H I ["m 24 3 24 0' R Z6 7 man 27 Z5 28 Y 40 22 0 Q o 40 I a9.

23 a! 23 2 n. "I, ,6 ll o 6/ 8/ v I Z0 3 I B Y 2/ 2 0740 43 0B ATTORNEY Aug.'25, 1942 o. v. c RLsoN arm. 2,293,802

HEAT TREATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 18, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 a GD 2 63 I02 v Q I 84 95 97 96 8 ,9 a 9 I 521 93 9 L 90 79 k. 78 0 p v 7 Z 4 8 70 j P 67 A INVENTORS I ODIN V. CARLSON BYARTHUR K.SEEMANN ATTORNEY Aug. 25, 1942:.

Q. v. CARLSON EIAL HEAT TREATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 18, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 I? r" I I 62 153, /02

I w It O O 125 E7 9 12a l; 704 H4 H5 L I I34 I E INVENTORs 54 ODIN V.CARL.SON [/2 I23 1Z9 Y'BRTH RKSEEMAN no T -I II 07"fl m5 6 ATTORNEY Aug. 25, 1942. o v CARLSQN AL 2,293,802

' HEAT TREATING APPARATUS Filed Aug 18, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS ODIN v. CARLSON BYARTHUR K SEEMANN ATTORNEY Aug. 25, 1 942.

o v. CARLSON ET AL ,80 HEAT TREATING APPARATUS v Filed Aug. 18, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 r INVENTORS 00m v. CA so ARTHUR K.

ATTORNEY O. V. CARLSON HAL Aug. 25, 1942.

HEAT TREATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 1a, 1938 a Sheets-Sheet-B INVENTORS ODIN v. CARLSON ARTHUR K.SEEMANN BY ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 25, 1942 HEAT TREATING APPARATUS Odin V. Carlson, New York, and Arthur K. Seemann, Garden City, N. Y., assignors to The Linde Air Products Company, a corporation of Ohio Application August 18, 1938, Serial No 225,520 18 Claims. (Cl. 266 -4) This invention relates to heat treating apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for heat treating surface portions of metal bodies, such as the ends of tread surfaces of'rails or the like.

During service in track, the ends of rail tread surfaces are subject to a greater amount of wear than the remainder of the tread surfaces due to the impact of rolling stock in passing over a joint Y from the end of one rail onto the end of an adjacent rail. The amount of such wear may be reduced, and the life of the rails increased, by hardening the tread surfaces at the ends of the rails. An effective method of hardening consists in locally heating only the portion to be hardened to a temperature ator above the critical range, and then cooling the heated portion.

Local heating may be accomplished electrically,

either by induction or by passing'an electric arc over the surface portion to be hardened, or by directing against the surface portion to be hardened high temperature heating flames, usually formed by a combustible mixture of gases, such as oxygen and acetylene. This latter process is known-as flame hardening, and this invention will be explained with reference thereto, although it will be understood that other ways of heating the tread surfaces may be employed. Furthermore, the usual rail steel normally requires only the application of an airquench in order to produce the desired hardness, but some rail steels will harden upon natural cooling. This invention will be explained with reference to air quenching, but it will be understood that natural cooling or other methods of cooling may be employed where the nature of the metal or other considerv ations indicate that such is desirable.

. cedure necessitates the use of a wheeled carriage adapted to roll along the track, and also a considerable amount of apparatus mounted thereon.

rails are placed on cooling beds. After cooling,

the rails are taken to straightening presses; the

required holes are drilled in the webs at the scales; and the rails are then taken to docks, usually located outside, for final inspection. It is while the rails are stored at the scales or on the docks that the most advantageous time occurs for surface hardening the ends, since the ends are easily accessible, a plurality of similar rails are disposed in an orderly arrangement, and there is the least likelihood of interfering with any other operation. Apparatus previously used for surface hardening rail ends has not been adapted for use at such places, and the advantages of heat treating a plurality of similar rails at such places has never been fully realized.

The main objects of this invention are to provide apparatus for rapidly; effectively and uniformly heat treating surfacesof metal bodies and more particularly the ends of rails; to provide such apparatus which is portable and may be removed easily from one rail end and held in position for similarly treating another rail end; to provide such apparatus which sufiiciently adjustable to produce the optimum results; to

provide such apparatus which is adapted to be utilized in heat treating a plurality of similar rails with a minimum of time and effort; to pro- Much time is consumed in rolling the carriage up and down the track, in adjustingthe apparatus for each particular joint, and in removing the apparatus from the track upon the approach and passage of a train or other equipment normally using the track. One object of this invention is to provide apparatus adapted to heat treat the ends of rails prior to their installation in track, and more particularly at a place at which a considerable number of rails are stored, such as on storage beds or docks at steel mills.

During their normal progress through a mill, after being rolled and hot-sawed into lengths,

. provide such apparatus in which the parts thereof are protected from overheating; to provide such apparatus which may be used outside even in the most severe weather; to provide such apparatus which will be simple and economical in operation; ,and to provide such apparatus which is semi-automatic or substantially completely automatic in operation.

Other objects and novel features of this invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of heat treating apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention and disposed in operative position on a rail, the end of which is to be treated;

Fig. 2 is a'rear elevation of the apparatus of .Fig 1;

3 is a front elevation of the apparatus of control mechanism of Fig. 5, and an associated automatic timing mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of a heating head forming a part of the apparatus of Fig. 1, partially broken away to show the interior construction;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig, 7

Fig. 9 is an oblique sectional view taken along the line 9--9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the lines I0iflof Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a bottom view of the heating head of Fi 7; I

Fig. 12 is a rear elevation of a quenching head forming a part of the apparatus;

Figs. 13 and is are vertical sectional views taken along the lines 23-43 and l t-44, respectively, of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view of a progas mixture, toward the heating head H in order to ignite the heating flames when the combustible mixture issues from the tips T. Valves for controlling the fiow of gases to the blowpipes B, as well as for controlling the flow of air to the airscreen and quenching head, are installed in a cabinet C mounted on the framework; and the heating head H, adaptor A, blowpipes B, and cabinet C are vertically adjustable as a unit on the carrier or framework.

The control valves for the heating gases and air are interlocked and operated simultaneously by a lever L, which is also the handle of the gas control valve. The lever L is adapted to move the quenching head Q from quenching to retracted position Q, and vice versa, and also to operate the air control valve, which is so contective air-screen head forming a part of the apparatus, taken along the line l5-l5 of Fig. 16, looking in the direction of the arrows; I

Fig. 16 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line l6l6of Fig. 15; and

Fig. 17 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Fig, 1 and auxiliary equipment used in a complete set-up for surface hardening rail ends. I

Apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention, as illustrated in Fig. 1, includes a carrier or framework F which is preferably made of tubular members both for the sake of strength and lightness and also so that a cooling medium may be circulated therethrough, but hollow castings or other parts having cooling passages may be used instead. The tubular members are preferably assembled by welding, and other fixed component parts of the apparatus attached or secured thereto by welding, but it will be understood that other ways of attaching or securing the various parts together may be utilized.

The carrier or framework F carries a heating head in which is adapted to direct a plurality of high temperature heating flames from tips T upon the end of the tread surface of a rail R. The framework F also carries a retractable quenching head Q which is adapted to direct a plurality of Jets of aironto the heated surface, and a protective air-screen head S which is adapted to direct a blast of air rearwardly along the web of.

structed that, when air is flowing to the quenching head Q, the supply to the protective screen head S will be shut oif, and vice versa. In addition, a latch is associated with the lever L, which holds the lever in the on position against the tension of a suitable spring, and an automatic timing mechanism is associated through an electrical cable E with a solenoid connected with the latch, the solenoid being adapted to trip the latch and thereby permit the lever L to be pulled to the off position by the spring.

In general, when the lever L is thrown to the on position, the flow of combustible mixture to the head H is turned on, the quenching head A cooling medium is passed from aninlet I at the front lower end of the framework to the rear upper end thereof, and thence through a conwith a combustible mixture of gases, such as oxygen and acetylene. A pilot tip P is adapted to direct a small flame, formed from an air-fuel 7 Q is simultaneously moved to its retracted position Q, and the flow of air to the protective screen head S is also turned on. After a predetermined interval'of heating, the flow of mixture to the head H is automatically shut off, the head Q is moved forwardly into quenching position, and the flow of air is simultaneously directed through the quenching head. A more specific description of the parts involved in these operations will be given later.

The framework F, as in Figs. 1-3, includes two main vertical tubes or posts 20 to which the cabinet C is Secured by clamps 2|. From the upper ends of posts 20, a pair of truss structures, consisting of horizontal tubes 22 and 23, extend forwardly along each side of the web W of the rail- The tubes 22 :and 23 converge inwardly toward the rail and also toward each other at their rear ends, there being connected together and to a rectangular tubular member or cross-over 24 extending upwardly and over the head or ball U of the rail.

For preliminary positioning of the heating head H with respect to the nail, pivoting skids 25 and adjustable angles 26 are utilized. The skids 25, which are welded to the lower horizontal tubes 23 adjacent the end of the rail, contact the upper surface of the base V of the rail. The angles 26, which engage the underside and side of the head U, are pivoted upon bolts 21 and are adjustable through clamps 28 both radially and vertically upon the .vertical legs of crossover 24. The angles 26 are raised or lowered to cause the-apparatus to pivot on skids 25 in positioning the lower face of the heating head H substantially parallel to the tread surface of the rail; while the weight of cabinet C, blowpipes B, and other parts at the front end of the framework serve by their weight to hold angles 26 in engagement with the head of the rail and hold the apparatus in fixed position longitudinally of the rail.

To provide a more rigid structure, a pair of braces 29 are welded to upper tubes 22 anid to the upper comers of cross-over 24, the braces 20 passing upwardly around the head of the rail; The convergence of tubes 22 and 23, and the position of cross-over 24 and braces 29, as well as skids 25 and angles 26, permit the apparatus.

to be placed'upon any one of a number of closely .placed rails, since from Fig. 2, it may be seen that each of these parts is'disposed sufliciently closely to the web and head of the rail under.

treatment to prevent contact with rails laid side by side and with the base of each touching the base of the rail under treatment.

For lateral positioning, a pair of eccentric rollers contacting the web W on either side thereof are utilized.- The eccentric rollers are mounted on studs 3| welded to the lower horizontal tubes 23, and are secured in any desired position, by suitable means, such as nuts 32.

For longitudinal positioning, a stop 33 is welded to the lower horizontal tubes 23, and an upper flange 34 of the stop is adapted to contact the end of the web W, when the apparatus is placed on the rail. Longitudinal adjustment is provided by .a set screw 35 engaging a suitable threaded hole in the lower portion of stop 33 and contacting the end of the-base V. i

A rear handle 36, which is hollow in order to permit the flow of cooling medium therethrough, is welded to the upper side of the upper hori zontal leg of cross-over 24,.and permits the apparatus to be lifted at that point. Attached to the lower side of the upper leg ofcross-over 24 are a pair of skids 31, normally disposed above the tread surface of the rail when the apparatus is in operating position, but adapted to contact and slide along the tread surface when the apparatus is being placed on or taken off the end of a rail. It will also be apparent that front skids 25, rear skids '31, and angles 26 cooperate to prevent injury or damage to tips T through contact with the rail while the apparatus is being placed on or taken off the end of a rail.

A tube 39, disposed laterally above the cabinet C and connected to posts 20 by horizontal tubes 4|), serves as a front handle for the apparatus. A pair of U-shaped rockers 4| attached to either end of the front handle lead downwardly therefrom and then upwardly, being attached to stop 33 and the mid-portion of lower horizontal tubes 23, while braces 42, attached to rockers 4| and to posts 20 adjacent the lower ends thereof, provide a more rigid structure. The Ush aped rockers 4| protect the blowpipes B and the various connections beneath the cabinet C from injury when the apparatus is removed from a rail and set down, the apparatus preferably being rocked forward onto the junction of tubes 22 and 23 and cross-over 24.

The blowpipes B, which partially supportthe heating head and adaptor, are attached to the cabinet C by clamps 43,-and further to support the heating head and adaptor, a post 44 is provided at its upper end with a clamp 45 fastened to the jacket J. The post 44 is supported by an inverted U-shaped tube or support46 welded to the upper horizontal tubes 22 and held rigidly in position by braces 41 which are welded thereto and-to the upper ends of posts 20. The support 46 is provided at its upper end with a. collar 48 in which the lower end of post 44 is vertically adjustable through a set screw 49. In lieu of the set screw 49, the post 44 may be threaded and nuts disposed above and below collar 48 for easier The protective air-screen head S is welded to the lower horizontal tubes 23 just forward .of stop 33, and the quenching head Q is mounted upontwo rods 56 secured in one arm of a yoke 5| by set screws 52, vertical adjustment of the position of the quenching head Q being obtained thereby. The yoke 5| is pivoted in the ends of brackets 53 welded to the cabinet C, and the other arm of yoke 5| is actuated through a yoke pin 54 by a rod 55, a collar 56 attached to the end of the rodbeing slotted to permit vertical movement ofyoke pin 54. Through movement of rod 55, which is actuated through the lever 'L, the

quenching head Q is moved from the quenching to retracted position Q, and vice versa.

A cooling medium inlet tube 51, which includes the inlet I, connects the lower ends of posts 26, the cooling medium flowing from the inlet I upwardly through each 'of the posts. From the top of posts 2|], the cooling medium flows the connections being solid, but other connections may be made hollow in case any other parts of the framework tend to become overheated.

From the rear handle 36, the cooling medium is carried by the flexible hose K to a fork 58 from which it is led through two tubes 59 into the head H. As previously indicated, the cooling medium is led from the head H through a tube M to the jacket J of the adaptor A, and from the jacket through a tube N to the outlet 0. Since the apparatus is preferably utilized in treating rails which are stored outside on docks, the cooling medium used is preferably one which will not freeze even in the severest weather, and also will not boil or vaporize and thereby lose its cooling effectiveness. A liquid suitable for this use has been found to be an ethylene glycol solution termed Prestone, ordinarily used as an 3.111201 mobile radiator antifreeze. To prevent loss, the cooling medium is also preferably circulated through a closed circuit, including a pump and a cooling coil, by means of hoses 60 and 6| connected to the inlet I and outlet 0, respectively.

As best'shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the parts installed within the cabinet C include a gas control valve 62 and a two-way air control valve 63.

- The gas control valve 62 is preferably of a type adjustment when clamps 2| are loosened in obwhich. will turn on the acetylene before the oxygen to permit the heating flames to be lighted more easily, and also turn off the oxygen before the acetylene to obviate the possibility of the presence of a highly oxidizingflame at the end,

of the treatment. A highly oxidizing flame tends to produce a considerable amount of scale and similar oxidation of the heated surface, which will cause a. reduction 6 in hardness, and can damage the metal surface by starting a scarf: ing action.

Oxygen is supplied to the gas control valve 62 from an inlet 64, and from the control valve the oxygen passes through an outlet tube 65 to a fork 66. From the fork 66, oxygen is delivered through two right angle connections 61 to oxygen inlets 68 of the blowpipes. Similarly, acetylene is delivered to the gas control valve from an inlet 69; from the gas control valve passes through an outlet I to a fork II; and from the fork 1| is delivered through two right angle connections 12 to acetylene inlets 13 of the blowpipes. The blowpipes are provided with suitable mixers for forming a combustible mixture of oxygen and acetylene, and the proportions of the constituents thereof are controlled by valves I4, which are more clearly seen in Figs. land 2. Outlets I5 of the blowpipes are connected to a fork or Y adaptor I6, and the combustible mixture formed in the two blowpipes passes from fork I6 through adaptor A to gas inlet ll of the heating head H.

To supply acetylene to the pilot tip P, a branch line I8 leads from acetylene inlet 69 through the cabinet C to the pilot tip, as in Figs. 1 and 3, a valve 19 being installed in the branch line adjacent the lower end of the cabinet to regulate the flow of acetylene therethrough. An air injector is preferably installed in branch line I8 just above valve I9 to provide an air-acetylene mixture for the pilot tip, such a mixture producing a relatively long flame which will permit the pilot tip to be positioned at a greater distance from the heating head. The pilot tip is supported in its position adjacent the heating head by the branch line I8, and the branch line is secured to one leg of support 46 by a clamp 80.

The two-way air control valve 63 is supplied with compressed air from an inlet 8|, and has two outlets 82 and 83, respectively, the flow of air thereto being controlled by a piston 84 having a reduced central portion 85. When the piston 84 is in the inward or rearward position, air is directed through outlet 82 and a hose 86 to the quenching head Q, and when the piston is in the outward or forward position, air is directed through outlet 83 and a hose 81 to the protective air-screen head S.

The handle L of the gas control valve 62 is held in the ofi position by the tension of a spring 89 attached to the lever or handle L and to a stud 90. When moved from the right hand or ofipositionto the left hand'or .on position, the lever L will engage a latch 9| pivoted at the top of a post 92 and prevented from dropping out of engagement with the lever by a torsion spring 93. The latch 9| may be tripped either by a hand trip 94, or a solenoid operated plunger 95.

The lever L is operatively connected with a three-armed yoke 98 by a pin 98 which is attached to the lever L and which slides in a slot 99 in the yoke, the yoke being pivoted on a fixed pin I00. The yoke 88 operates the piston 84 of the air valve 83, an electrical toggle switch 91, and the rod 55 which passes through the rear wall of the cabinet to move the quenching head Q.

When the lever L is moved from the right hand or oif position to theleft hand or on position, the yoke 90 will pivot, causing the heating gases to be turned on, the quenching head Q to be moved to its retracted position Q, and the piston of the air control valve to be shifted so that the flow of air to the quenching head Q will be changed to the air-screen head S. When the latch 8| is tripped, either manually or automatically in a manner to be described later, the lever L will be moved by spring 88 to the right hand or off position, and yoke 98 will re-pivot, causing the heating gases to be turned off, the quenching head Q to be moved to quenching position, and the piston of the air control valve to be re-shifted so that the flow of air will then be directed through the quenching head. While in the cycle of operations just described, the flow of air will be directed through the quenching head Q while the apparatus is being moved from one rail end to another, it will be understood that a control valve may be installed in the line leading to the air inlet 8| by means of which the air may be turned off during shifting of the apparatus.

An electrically operated mechanism for effecting automatic operation of the apparatus, as in Fig. 4, includes a solenoid I02 installed inthe cabinet C and adapted to operate plunger 95, the

toggle switch 91, and a time delay relay D which includes a relay I03 and a synchronous motor I04. Current is received from a line I05, one side of which is connected to solenoid I02 by a wire I06, and the other side of which is connected to a terminal I01. When the lever L is thrown from left to right in order to start the heating operation, toggle switch 91 is closed, and synchronous motor |04 is started. For this purpose, current passes through wire I08 and a wire I08 to the toggle switch, thence through a wire I09 to a terminal 0, while wires III and H2, leading from terminals I01 and H0, respectively,

a complete the circuit through the winding of synchronous motor I04. After a predetermined interval of heating has passed, a rotating contact arm 3 of the synchronous motor I04 contacts a second arm 4, thereby completing the circuit through relay I03, which includes wires 5 and the winding of solenoid I02 becomes energized,

plunger will be pulled upwardly, thus actuating trip 9| and permittingspring 89 to pull the lever L to the right hand or off position. The synchronous motor M4 is preferably provided with suitable means (not shown) which will cause the rotating arm 3 to be returned to its initial position as soon as solenoid I02 has caused latch 9| to be tripped, thereby placing the mechanism in condition for a repetition of the cycle above described and prepared for the treatment of the next rail the end of which is to be hardened.

The initial position of rotating arm I I3 of synchronous motor I04 is set in accordance with the heating time necessary for the rail to be hardened, i. e., for 112 pound rail it is generally found desirable to have a heating time of about 24 seconds, whereas for pound rail, a heating time of 27 seconds has been found desirable. These heating times, of course, are also affected by the tip arrangement used, which may be changed in accordance with the weight and size of the rail,

as will be explained in detail later.

In some instances, particularly at mills. at which sudden cessations of the supply of electricity are prone to occur, it may be desirable to arrange the electrical circuit and associated parts so that the lever L will be tripped upon a cessation of the current as well as by operation of the automatic timing mechanism. For this purpose, the alternative control mechanism of Figs; 5 and 6 is particularly suitable. In the alternative control mechanism, latch 8| is longer than latch 8|, and a shorter post 82' is disposed under the lever L to change the position of the fulcrum of vthe 1atch. Generally, when current passes downwardly.

an insulated arm I23, and'normally closed contacts I24 adapted to be opened by operation of relay I03. The hand trip lever is replaced by a push button trip switch I25, one side of which is connected to a terminal I'I' of line I by a wire I26, and the other side of which is connected to one side of solenoid I02 by a wire I21. Switch 91 is connected in series with contacts I24 by a wire I28 attached to one side of switch 91, while the other side of switch 91 is connected by wire I08 to solenoid I02 and by a wire I29 to a terminal IIO to which synchronous motor I04 and relay I03 are also connected.

The operation of this modification is similar to the operation previously described, except that when the lever L is shifted to the on position,

switch 91 will close the circuit through both solenoid I02 and synchronous motor I04, and, when the predetermined time interval has elapsed, rotating arm II3 will contact fixed arm I I4, as before, closing the circuit through relay I03 which causes contacts I24 to open and thereby opens the circuit through. solenoid I02. latch 9| to be automatically tripped and the lever L to be returned to the off position. Obviously, a cessation of current will also cause latch 9| to be tripped, since the solenoid I02 will no longer be energized; Other ways of accomplishing the same result will readily suggest themselves.

This will cause The heating head H, illustrated in detail in 7 Figs. 7 to 11, includes an upper block I34, a lower block I35, and a shell I36 connecting the two, a space I3I being formed between the upper and lower blocks within the shell. The shell itself may consist of several pieces, as is more clearly indicated in Fig. 10, each piece corresponding in shape to one side of the upper and lower blocks, and the several pieces united in a suitable manner, such as by bronze welding. The upper and lower blocks are provided with peripheral rims I38 to permit the shell I36 to be attached thereto in a suitable manner, such as by bronze welding, and at the same time obviate the possibility of overheating the shell due to a difference in thickness of section. The rim of the lower block also forms grooves which permit the cooling medium to be circulated aroundthe lower block closer of tips, each row in this instance consisting of six tips. The tips in the lateral rows of the front -lower surface and steps are preferably aligned longitudinally, to form six longitudinal rows, each longitudinal row being supplied with the combustible mixture from one of sixheaders I44, I45, or I46 disposed longitudinally and slanting upwardly from front to rear. The headers in this instance are drilled from the front face of the lower block, the ends thereof being closed by plugs I44, I45, and I46, respectively, which are secured in the ends of the headers in a suitable manner, such as by brazing or silver soldering. Each tip is connected with its respective header by an individual outlet passage I4'I.' Eachof the wing portions I43 may carry a longitudinal row of tips, in this instance three in number, each row of wing tips being supplied with the combustible mixture from a header I48, the end of which is closed by a plug I48. Each wing tip is connected withits respective header by an individual outlet passage I49.

Since the lateral rows of tips' carried by steps I40, MI, and I42 are spaced at increasing distances from the top surface of the rail end, a heating effect of decreasing intensity will be obtained which will tend to cause a decreasing hardness andalso a decreasing depth of hardened zone in a direction away from the rail end.

The tips in'the two central longitudinal rows preferably have outlets ofa slightly larger diameter than the outlets of the tips in the outer rows in order to provide a greater heating effect at the center of the rail head where heat tends to be conducted away at a faster rate. In addition, the length of the various tips may be made shorter or longer in order to provide a desired heating effect. For instance, the three tips carried by the front lower surface and in each of the outer rows may be shorter in the case of lighter rail, such as 112 lb. rail, than in the case of heavier rail, such as 130 lb. rail.

The wing tips are adapted to apply heat to the curved corners of the rail head, as can be seen from Fig. 2, and also preferably have outlets of a larger diameter for a larger size of rail. The individual outlet passages I41 and I49 are'threaded to receive the tips T, and in order to alter the tip arrangement, it is only necessary to replace to the lower surface, whichis directly'exposed to front lower surface I39 and rear surfaces or steps- I40, MI, and I42, stepped upwardly from the front lower surface. Each of the central surfaces is adapted to be positioned substantially parallel to the top surfaceof. the rail end, and the head H is also provided with .two wing portions I43, one on either side of the central portion, the lower surfaces of which slant outwardly and As in Figs. 8 and 11, each'of the Steps I40, MI and I42 may carry a lateral row of tips, in this instance six tips in each row, while the front lower surface I39 may carry three lateral rows any tip by one of the desired length and size..

Furthermore, in case it is not desired to harden the curved corners of the rail head, the wing tips may be replaced by suitable plugs, and in addition, any of the other tips may be replaced by plugs in-order to achieve a desired heating effect. v

To convey the combustible mixture from the inlet II of the upper block to thetip headers in the lower block, the inlet .11 is connected by cross passages I5I to the mid-portions of a pair of main headers I52 in the upper block, and a plurality of tubes I54, I55, I55 and I58 lead from the two main headers the upper block to the tip headers in the lower block, these tubes passing through the space I31. As in Fig. 7, the

front and rear pairs of tubes I54 lead to the two' middle tip headers I44, the next pairs of tubes I55 leadto tip headers I45, thepairs of tubes I56 lead to headers I46, and the single central tubes I58 lead to wing tip headers I48. By this to receive a slightly greater amount of themixture, while the other tubes of diminishing length connect with the main headers at points further removed from the central portions. Thus, the greater resistance to flow of the combustible mixture of the longer tubes is compensated for by the tendency of the longer tubes to receive a greater amount of the mixture from headers I52.

In order to cool the head I-I adequately and in order to distribute the cooling medium evenly through the lower block, relatively large cooling medium headers I60 and I6I are formed in the lower block at either side of and slightly below the outer tip headers I46, and similarly slope upwardly from front to rear. The ends of headers I60 and I6I are closed by plugs I60 and IBI, the plugs being secured in the ends of the headers in a suitable manner, such as by brazing. A series of channels and passages connect headers I60 and I6I and also distribute the cooling medium around and between tip outlets I41 and also through wings I43. These channels and passages are disposed between the tip headers and the lower surface of the block, and princi pally discharge into spaces I62 formed between the lower block and shell I36 and between the lower block and rim I38.

As in Fig. 10, headers I60 and I6I are connected by five channels, i. e. two front channels I63, a center channel I64, and two rear channels I65 and I66. The lower block is provided with a shoulder I61, as in Figs. 7 and 10, to facilitate drilling of these channels through the shoulder and header I60 and thence into the header I6I.

The ends of front channels I63, center channel I64, and rear channel I65 are closed by suitable plugs I63, I64, and I65, respectively, the plugs being secured in the ends of the channels in a suitable manner, such as by brazing. The rear channel I66 is not plugged, preferably being drilled entirely through the lower block. 'A series of passages I68 connecting the front channels I63 and disposed between alternate tip outlet passages I41 discharge the cooling medium into the space I62 at the front of the lower'block, while a similar series of passages I69 connecting the rear channels I65 and I66 and also disposed between alternate tip outlet passages discharge into the space I62 at the rear of the lower block. In addition, a series of passages I10, as in Figs. '1 and 8, lead from the central channel I64 to the upper surface of. the lower block, thus providing a positive circulation of cooling medium to the upper surface. Furthermore, the rear passages I69 are disposed in a plane above the plane of passages I68 in accordance with the steps in the lower surface, as in Fig. 8., and channels I64, I65, and I66 are successively higher with.respect to front channels I63. 7

The circulation of the cooling medium through the wings I43 is similar to the circulation through the central part of the lower block, a

series of passages and cross passages being employed. In each wing, two front passages I1I, a central passage I12, and a rear passage I13 lead from header I60 or I 6| to spaces I62 at the sides' and at the rearof the wings. Each of these passages is substantially parallel to the'lower surface of the respective wing, and front passages I1I and central passage I12 are disposed between wing tip headers I48 and the lower surface of the wing, front passages I1I passing between tip outlet passages I 49, as in Fig. 9. Cross passages I 14 connect-'frontpassages HI and dis- The headers I and I6I receive the cooling fluid through tubes I15 from inlet passages I16 in the upper block I34, while the cooling fluid supply tubes 59, of Figs. 1-3, are attached to inlet connections I11, in turn attached to the upper block within inlet passages I16. The cooling medium, ,after circulation through the lower block, passes upwardly, completely filling chamber I31 and thereby cooling the combustible mixture tubes I54, I55, I56 and I58, and is discharged from the chamber I31 through an outlet passage I18 in the upper block. An outlet connection I19, secured to the upper block within the outlet passage I18, is connected with the tube M of Figs. 1 3, through which the cooling mediumis passed to the jacket of the adaptor A, as previously described.

The quenching head Q, illustrated in detail in Figs. 1214, comprises a single block attached to the supporting rods 50. The air hose 86 is connected to an inlet I III which leads into a distributing chamber I82 from which the quenching air is conveyed through a plurality of channels I83 into an outlet header I84. The channels I83 may b drilled from the upper end of the block through outlet header I 84 and into distributing chamber I82, the ends of the drilled holes being closed by suitable plugs I85, while the chamber I82 and header I84 may be drilled from the side of the block and the ends thereof respectively closed by an attached plug I86 or a removable plug I81. Leading from the header I84 are a plurality of outlets I88, which are disposed in three rows and are adapted to direct a plurality of air jets onto the heated surface at increasing distances away from the end of the rail, the upper row of outlets directing air jets onto points further back from the end of the rail than the two lower rows. The two middle channels I83 are so placedv with respect to the inlet I8I that air will not pass directly into header I84 from the inlet, thereby effecting a more uniform distriso that the quenching jets will be directed at an charge into space I62 at the front of the wings.

angle of substantially 20 with respect to the surface under treatment. In addition, the quenching head is of such width that it will fit between the wings of the heating head H when in quenching position. Obviously, the angle at which the quenching jets are directed may be varied, and the arrangement as well as the sizes of the quenching outlets may be changed as desired for any particular rail to be treated.

The protective air-screen head S, which is 11 lustrated in detail in Figs. Hand 16, comprises a hollow tube attached in fixed position to the lower horizontal tubes 23, as previously described, the ends of the tube being closed by plugs I90 secured therein in a suitable manner, such as by brazing. The hose 81 is connected to an inlet I9I attached to the tube, and the inlet is inclined slightly away from set screw 35 mounted in stop 33 to facilitate access to the set screw. Two sets of outlets I92, disposed at either side-o1 stop 33, direct air jets at a slight angle upwardly and forwardly ,on either side of the rail and toward the web engaging rollers 30; while a. row of out lets I93 direct air jets rearwardly and upwardly toward the quenching head in retracted position Q. Th outlets I92 may be inclined upwardly at an angle of 10 with the horizontal, while outlets l93may be inclined rearwardly at an angle of 35 with the vertical, but other angular relationships, as well as other positions of outlets I92 and I93, may be employed.

In a complete set-up for the hardening of' a plurality of rail ends when the rails are stored on docks or similar places, certain auxiliary apparatus is normally utilized. In acomplete setup, as illustrated in Fig. 17, th auxiliary apparatus includes the timing mechanism D; a pump 200 'for circulating the cooling medium through the framework and through a coil 201 disposed in a cooling tank 202; an oxygen regulator 203 connected to an oxygen supply line 204;

,an acetylene regulator 205 and hydraulic back pressure valve 206 connected to an acetylene supply line 201; and an air regulator 208 connected to a compressed air supply line 209.

each rail abutting the base of each adjacent The oxygen supply line 204 is connected with a suitable source of oxygen, such as a plurality of cylinders of compressed oxygen connected to a manifold, and the outlet of the oxygen regulator 203 is connected with the oxygen inlet connection just beneath the cabinet C by a hose 2l0. The acetylene supply line 201 may be connected with a plurality of cylinders containing compressed acetylene connected to a common manifold, or to an acetylene generator. The hydraulic back pressure valve 206, which is provided with a relief valve 2, is connected with acetylene regulator 205 by a pipe H2, and the outlet of the acetylene regulator is connected with the acetylene inlet just beneath the cabinet C by a hose 2l3. Similarly, the outlet of the compressed air regulator 208 is connected with the air inlet just beneath the cabinet C by a hose 2l4. Additional valves may be placed in oxygen, acetylene, air supply, or connecting lines, as desired.

The cooling medium is circulated through a closed system which includes the framework F, the pump 200, and the cooling coil 20!. A hose 2|! connects outlet 2l8 of pump 200with the cooling medium inlet I, while a hose 2l9 connects the cooling medium outlet 0 with cooling coil 20!. A cooling fluid, such as water, may be circulated through tank 202 from an inlet 220 to an outlet 22L From the coil 20!, the cooling medium passes into a relief tank 222 mounted above tank 202, which is subject to atmospheric pressure, the height of liquid in the relief tank being ascertained by a gauge 223. From the relief tank, the cooling medium flows by gravity through a hose 224 to inlet 225 of the pump 200, from whence it is recirculated through the closed system, the pump outlet being provided with a relief valve 220 and a by-pass connection 221 leading to the pump inlet, in order to prevent development of excessive pressures within the cooling system. A valve 228 is used for stopping the flow of cooling medium to the pump and through the closed system.

The pump is driven by a motor 230 to which it is directly connected. Disposed above the pump and motor is a panel 23 I, upon which is mounted the time delay relay D, which is connected with the heat-treating apparatus by the cable E. Also mounted on panel 23l is a control box 233 containing controls for the motor, such as a starting relay and switches, which are electrically connected with the motor by a cable 234.

While on the docks, the rails normally are stored horizontally on a plurality of spacedapart and parallel rails or beams 235, supported are stored in this manner.

with the ends aligned laterally and the base of rail; and, as previously pointed out, the embodiment of this invention as illustrated is particularly adapted to permit the treatment of a plurality of adjoining rail ends when the rails For such treatment, hoses 2l0, 2l3, 2l4, 2H, and 2l9 and electrical cable E, all of which connect the auxiliary apparatus with the heat-treating apparatus, are preferably relatively long-since the heat-treating apparatus is light and portable and can be moved easily from one rail end to another, whereas the auxiliary apparatus is more bulky and cumbersome and preferably remains relatively stationary. However, the auxiliary apparatus may be mounted upon a car, truck, or. other movable support, and moved occasionally as necessity.

The ends of rails as they come from the mill are usually covered with a thin layer of scale which acts as insulation and tends to necessitate a, relatively longer heating time. To remove this layer of scale, a welding torch may be passed several times over the area to be hardened so that the heat from the welding torch will cause the scale toexpand and thereby become loosened, after which it will normally be blown away by the force of the ordinary welding flame.

In treating a rail or a plurality of rails by the apparatus described, after the various parts have been connected together, the relief tank 222 is filled with cooling medium and motor 230 is started to start pump 200. The carrier or frame-. work is placed on a pilot rail for adjustment of the heating flames, since the full effect ofthe heating flames would tend to destroy parts of the apparatus even though a cooling medium were being circulated therethrough. The oxygen and acetylene are then turned on and the pressure thereof adjusted by regulators 203 and 205; the pilot tip P is lighted and the pilot flame adjusted; the lever L is held in the "on. position to cause a flow of oxygen and acetylene through the blowpipes to the heating head H; the proportions of the combustible mixture are adjusted by the blowpipe valves to produce the desired,'

' flames at the tips T; and the lever L is released,

at a convenient height by a column 236. The

is set parallel to the top of the rail end by adjuste.

ment of angles 26; the apparatus is adjusted endwise of the rail by set screw 35; and the distance between the tips T and the top of the rail' is adjusted by clamps 2| and post 44, the cabinet C, blowpipes B, and head H all beingmoved as a unit. The apparatus will then be in the position of Figs. 1 and 17, and in'po'sitlon for the heat-treating operation itself.

After the apparatus is in position, thecompressed air; may be turned on and the pressure thereof adjusted by regulator 208; the time delay relay is adjusted to act at the end of the desired interval and electricity-is supplied thereto; and flow of cooling fluid through tank 202 is started, if necessary. Then, merely by moving the lever L to' the on position, the heating gases will be turned on, the quenching head Q retracted, air will be passed to the protective screen head S, and the automatic timing mechanism started, as previously described. At the end of the predetermined time interval, the lever L will automatically be shifted to the off position, resulting in the heating gases being turned off, the

quenching head thrown forwardly into quench treated, the front handle 39 is lifted so that heated surface; means for moving said quenching head into and out of operative position with respect to said surface; and means for controlling the flow of cooling medium to said quenching head, said controlling means being associated with said moving means in such a manner as to cause the cooling medium to flow to said quenching head and be directed onto the heated surface substantially simultaneously with the movement of said quenching head into operative position with respect to said surface.

2. Heat treating apparatus comprising means for locally heating a surface portion of a metal body; a movable quenching head for directing a cooling medium onto the heated surface; means for moving said quenching head into and out of operative relation with respect to said surface; and means for directing a protective screen of cooling/"medium toward said quenching head whenin inoperative position with respect to said angles 26 will be lowered from contact with the head or ball of the rail and so that rear skids 37 will support the rear end of the apparatus upon the top of the rail, the lower skids being,

raised slightly above the upper surface of the surface.

3. Apparatus for heat treating a portion adjacent the end of a rail or the like, such apparatus comprising, in combination, a device for ap- 25 plying heat to said portion; a carrier for said base V of the rail. The apparatus is then slipped forwardly on the rail until rear skids 31 approach the end, in which position the rear handle 36 is used in lifting the apparatus entirely clear of the rail.

To place the apparatus upon an adjacent rail, the rear skids 31 are placed upon the top of the rail which is to be treated closely adjacent the end thereof, angles 26 being below the ball or head of the rail, and the apparatus slid onto the rail until flange 34 of stop 33 contacts the web,

' whereupon front handle 39 is lowered so that angles 26 will contact the ball and lower skids 25 will rest upon the base of the rail, set screw 35 at the same time acting to position the apparatus endwise of the rail. During this movement, eccentric rollers 30, having previously been set for the first rail of a plurality of similar rails, will center the apparatus with respect to the rail upon which the apparatus is being placed. Having again assumed the position of Figs. 1 and 17, the apparatus will be in position to heat treat the rail end on which it has just been placed, and the previously described operations are repeated.

From the above, it can be seen that it is necdevice; means secured to said carrier and cooperating with portions of said rail or the like to guide said carrier longitudinally of said rail from one end toward the other end thereof, to

position said device relatively to the portion to be heat treated; and means for clamping said carrier to said rail or thelike, to maintain said device in substantially fixed position relatively to the portion to be heat treated, said means ineluding at least a part of said guiding means and said means cooperating with-portions of said rail or the like, including the underside of the head of said rail.

4. Apparatus for heat treating rails or the like 4 as defined in claim 3, including means for adtus comprising, in combination, a device for applying high temperature heat to said portion, i a carrier for said device; and means engaging the head of the rail and the base of the rail and operable to hold said carrier longitudinally on said rail and thereby maintain said device in fixed essary to-adjust the apparatus for only the first of. a plurality of similar rails to be treated, and that after proper adjustments for the initial rail, the only operations necessary are removal of the portable apparatus from one rail to another and throwing the lever L to the On posit igmin the case of each rail; the remainder of the operations proceeding automatically.

Although this invention and the apparatus thereof have been described particularly with reference to the heat-treatment'of rail ends, it

will be obvious that the principles of this invening head for applying a cooling medium to the 75 th j SidB thereofrelation to the tread portion to be heat treated. 6. Apparatus for heat treating a tread portion adjacent the end of a rail, such apparatus comprising, in combination, a device for applying 55,.localized high temperature heat to said portion;

its. carrier for saiddevice; andrneans secured to said carrier and constructed and arranged to cooperate" with both the head and the base of said rail to guide said carrier longitudinally of said xrail and abut the end of said rail to position said device relatively to said tread portion, said means being operable to hold said; carrier on said rail to maintain said device in fixed relation to said tread portion. t,

Apparatus for heat treating rails and the like "omprising means for locally heating a surface portion, of theheadof a rail; means for supporting said heatingmeans means attached to ,engaging the base of said rail on either side of th't web thereof; means attached to said supporting means for engaging the underside of the head of said rail on either side thereof; and mean attached to said support- 8. Apparatus for heat treating rails or the like, comprising means for locally heating a surface portion of the head of a rail adjacent .the end thereof; means for supporting said heating means above the head of said rail; a pair of skids attached to said supporting means for engaging the base of said rail adjacent the end and on either side of the web thereof; vertically adjustable means attached to said supporting means for engaging the head of said rail on either side thereof and at a point spaced from the end of said rail, whereby said adjustable means, during vertical adjustment thereof, will cause said supporting means to pivot about said skids; and means attached to said supporting means for contacting the end of said railv to position said supporting means and heating means longitudinally with respect to said rail.

9. Heat treating apparatus comprising means for locally heating a surface portion of a. metal Jody; a movable quenching head for applying a :ooling medium to the heated surface; means for moving said quenching head into and out of oparative position with respect to said surface; neans for directing a protective screen of cooling medium towards said quenching head when in iniperative position with respect to said surface; and means for controlling the flow of cooling nedium to said quenching head and said protec- ;ive means so as to effect a flow of cooling medium culating a cooling fluid through at least the por-' tion of said hollow members closely adjacent said positioning means.

14. Apparatus for heat treating in succession surface portions of aplurality of rails disposed side by side with the webs of such rails in sub- .stantially a vertical position and .the base of each .rail closely adjacent or touching the base of the rail on either side thereof, such apparatus comprising means for locally heating a surface portion of the-head of a rafl underftreatment and adjacent the end thereof; and means for contacting at least the head and end of said rail under treatment to support said heating means above the head of said rail, a portion of said supporting means being constructed and arranged to extend alongside the web of said rail on either ;0 said quenching head when said quenching head s in operative position with respect to said sur- :ace, and to effect a flow of said cooling medium ;o said protective means when said quenching lead is in inoperative position with respect to ;aid surface.

10. Heat treating apparatus comprising means or heating a surface portion of a metal body; neans for controlling the operation oi"v said heatng means; a quenching head for applying a coolng medium to the heated surface; means for :ontrolling .the flow of cooling medium to said uenching head; means including a lever for limultaneously operating both of such controlling neansin moving from one position to a second :osition; a latch for holding said lever in one of aid positions; a solenoid operativelyconnected vith said latch for causing said latch to be ripped; and an electrically operated timing mechanism associated with said solenoid for efecting operation of said solenoid at the end of a Iredetermined time interval so as to cause said atch to be tripped and said lever released, therey operating both of said controlling means and ausing the heating to be discontinued and sub tantially simultaneously therewith the cooling medium to be applied to such heated surface.

11. Heat treating apparatus. as defined in claim .0, inwhich said solenoid and said lever are asociated with said latch in such a manner that" lpon a cessation of the supply of electrical enrgy to said solenoid said latch will be tripped lndsaid lever released.

12. Heat. treating apparatus as defined in :laim 10, in which said solenoid and said lever .re associated with said latch in such a manner hat upon a cessation of the supply of electrical nergy to said solenoid said latch will be tripped .nd said lever released, and which includes an lectrical switch associated with said solenoid for nterrupting the supply of electrical energy to aid solenoid to cause said latch to be tripped lnd said lever released.

13. Apparatus for heat treating rails and the side thereof but sumciently closely to the web of said rail to prevent contact with rails on side of the rail undertreatment.

15. Apparatus for heat treating a surface portion adjacent the end of a rail or the like, such apparatus comprising, in combination, means for directing a plurality of high temperature heating flames against a surface portion of the head of a rail adjacent one end thereof a carrier for contacting at least the head and the end of said rail to support said heating means in operative position above the surface portion to be treated, said carrier being so constructed and arranged as to be capable of being placed in position on a plurality of rails in succession; and means secured to said carrier for contacting the top of the head of the rail and also for contacting the upper portion of the base of the rail under treatment on either side of the web thereof before said heating means can contact the upper surface of said rail, so as to prevent damage to said heating means when said apparatus is placed on a rail to be treated. I

16. Heat treating apparatus comprising means for locally heating a surface portion ,of a metal body; a quenching head for directing a cooling medium against the heated surface; means for supporting said heating means and said quenchitiate operation of said heating means and siing head in operative position with respect to said surface portion; means for directing a protective screen of cooling medium toward said quenching head and toward parts of said supporting means tending to become overheated; and control means constructed and arranged to inmultaneously therewith effect a flow of cooling medium tosaid protective means, and also to dis- [kc comprising means for locally heating a sur- 7 continue operation of said heating means and substantially simultaneously therewith effect the flow of said cooling medium to said quenching means.

17. Heat treating apparatus as defined in claim 16, including a timing mechanism associated with said control means so as to cause said control means to discontinue operation of said heating means and effect the flow of said'cooling medium to said quenching means at the end of a predetermined time interval of heating.

18. Apparatus for heat treating a surface portion of the head of a rail comprising a blowpipe head provided with wings on either side thereof,

either tread surface of the head of said rail; means for supporting said blowpipe head in operative relation with respect to said surface portion; and means for supplying said blowpipe head with a.

5 combustible mixture of gases.

ODIN V. CARLSON. ARTHUR K. SEEMANN. 

